My Results on the HCG Diet

The HCG Diet has become very controversial. With its 500 calorie intake many doctors have warned against this diet. But, the results, as Doctor Doctor Oz points out, are showing results and need further investigation. The HCG diet may not be right for some, but it was definitely right for me.

My Experience With HCG

After two years of calorie counting and exercising without losing one pound I decided to go on the HCG diet. But, the only way I would do this was under an HCG doctor’s supervision. A friend found Dr. Nissen, a local HCG doctor, and together we embarked on our HCG Diet.

What is HCG?

HCG is a human chorionic gonadotripin hormone produced by women when they are pregnant. The purpose of the HCG diet is to reset the metabolic rate of the hypothalamus gland. This can be achieved by injecting or using liquid drops and following a strict 500 calorie regimen.

Doctor Prescribed Supplements

Under my doctor’s supervision the HCG Diet not only included the HCG injections, but supplements as well. Once a day I was allowed one UltraLean Protein Powder shake, which quickly became the highlight of my day. Twice a day, 30 minutes before each meal, two BioCleanse capsules. Also, 1 tablespoon a day of MCT oil, which could be used to cook with or taken orally.

HCG Diet Can’t Do’s

There are several things one cannot do on the HCG Diet. The first is no cheating. If you cheat, it will reflect in your weight loss. HCG can put a dent in your budget so why waste your time and money? Stick to the program, you’ll feel so good you did.

Second, is absolutely no oil or alcohol intake or products, such as chapstick, make-up, facial cleaners, soaps and shampoos. It is extremely important to check all these products before you use them because what is in them might affect your weight loss results. I regularly use witch hazel to clean my face, but witch hazel has a small percentage of alcohol. The result of me using it made my weight plateau for 6 days. I talked with my doctor and narrowed down what the culprit might be. As soon as I stopped using it, my weight loss dropped.

Third, there is no extraneous exercising on the HCG Diet. My doctor said it was ok to walk for 30 minutes a day, but I refrained from all exercise.

HCG Diet Phase 1

After a full work up and approval from the doctor Phase 1 began. For two days high calorie and high fat foods are on the menu. This is by far the most fun part of the diet. During this time I also portioned out all my 100 grams of protein and froze them. This made making my daily meals much easier for the next phase.

HCG Diet Phase 2

I wanted to lose 20 lbs. So I decided to do the 26-day HCG regimine, which means injections for 23 days and the 500 calorie diet for 26 days. Each morning I weighed myself and wrote it down, and then I injected HCG into the fatty part of my abdomen. At first I was hesitant about the injections, but it’s done with a diabetic needle and I did not feel any discomfort.

There are plenty of HCG cookbooks. I didn’t bother with them. I just used the list of ingredients my doctor gave me and came up with things I thought might taste good as I went along. Luckily all spices are on the menu. A quick favorite became Lettuce Wrap Fajitas and Chicken Curry and Apple Salad. During this phase I lost 16 lbs.

HCG Diet Phase 3

This phase was the most challenging. After having a strict ingredient list I was unsure of what good food choices were. I knew I had to avoid starches and sugars, but these can be hidden in foods that appear healthy. Because of my food choices my weight yo-yo’d. The result of this was several steak and apple days. If my weight went up 2 pounds then I’d eat no breakfast or lunch. At night I eat a large steak and one apple. It can also be one tomato, but I preferred the apple. The next day my weight was down 2 pounds. While this method works it is not a way to keep your weight on track.

When I completed the 3 weeks of Phase 3 my ending weight was 10 lbs. After a few weeks I decided to do another round of HCG. I discussed my Phase 3 problems with my doctor and he gave me a detailed list of Phase 3 foods. With this in hand and my prior experience my second round of HCG worked even better. I lost a total of 22 lbs and have kept the weight off.

HCG Benefits

I’ve found the biggest benefit of HCG is that the results were instant. Keeping to the strict diet took self control, but it was just as hard as working out everyday and counting calories. In a matter of days my clothes fit better, or not at all, which boosted my self esteem.

It has also changed the way I eat and look at food. My meals consist of proteins, fresh veggies and fruit. I make conscious and better choices. Foods that I craved before, such as breads and candies, I don’t crave anymore.

My Personal Consensus

The HCG Diet might not be or work for everyone, but it worked for me. I achieved my weight loss goals and I experienced no side effects. In the future, I would not hesitate to use it again.